Cup of Greed: A Review on the Pythagoras Cup

Have you ever encountered the saying by Erich Fromm, “Greed is a bottomless pit that exhausts the person in a ceaseless quest for satisfaction, never actually achieving it”? This quote is perfectly represented by the Pythagoras Cup. Its design serves as a powerful metaphor for how unchecked greed can lead to inevitable emptiness.

Source: Annielogue/Wikimedia Commons

What is the Pythagoras Cup? The Pythagoras Cup is an ordinary cup with a distinct column at its center. The purpose of the cup is to spill the drink if a person decides to be greedy by overpouring into the cup. While the chalice may look ordinary from the outside, it was actually an ancient Greek party trick that continues to puzzle people today. The Pythagoras Cup was created by Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Surprise! Ancient Greeks actually can have a sense of humor. While he may be more famously known for his work with the Pythagorean Theorem, Pythagoras’ party trick has also been used to spark laughter throughout the centuries.

Source: Tree of Math

How does the Pythagoras Cup work? To understand how the Pythagoras Cup functions, let’s examine its cross section. The cup contains a hidden channel that spirals around within its central column. As liquid is poured into the cup, it fills both the cup itself and the channel simultaneously. This process is governed by Pascal’s Theorem of Communicating Vessels, which states that when two connected vessels are filled with liquid, the liquid will naturally reach the same height in both. 

Source: Nevit Dilmen/Wikimedia Commons

As long as the person stops pouring when the liquid reaches the top of the column inside the cup, there will be no spillage, and they can safely enjoy their drink. However, if they become greedy and pour beyond this level, excess liquid will overflow through the hidden channel and will spill out beneath the chalice. As the liquid rises above the column, it creates increased pressure. This pressure, along with gravity, causes a siphon to form within the channel and causes all the liquid from the cup to be drained out from the bottom.

This genius contraption has many names: Greedy Cup, Cup of Justice, and Pythagoras Cup. How does this cup’s function relate to greed? When the contraption was first created during the mid-6th century BCE, Pythagoras wished to punish those who overfilled their cups with wine with greed. This cup punishes these people by causing all the liquid to drain out of the cup when they become too greedy. This connects back to the quote about how greed is a bottomless pit. This clever design illustrates how excessive greed, symbolized by overfilling the cup, will ultimately lead to the cup’s emptying—mirroring how greed can lead to inevitable emptiness.

Ultimately, this clever party trick has taught an invaluable lesson about the pitfalls of greed. Though it was created as a playful prank, its underlying message carries significant weight. By demonstrating how excessive pouring leads to the complete drainage of the cup, it vividly illustrates the consequences of unchecked greed. The Pythagoras Cup serves as a powerful reminder to avoid overindulgence and to maintain humility. It encourages us to appreciate what we have and to recognize that seeking more than what is necessary can ultimately result in losing everything. I hope you learned something new! Keep a lookout for the next post!

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References

AZ Quotes. (n.d.). Greed Quotes. AZ Quotes. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/greed.html

Kerrigan, S. (2018 June 22). The Pythagorean Cup – The Cup That Spills Your Drink When You Get Too Greedy. Interesting Engineering. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://interestingengineering.com/culture/the-pythagorean-cup-the-cup-that-spills-your-drink-when-you-get-too-greedy

Steward, J. (2019 Oct. 9). This “Normal” Drinking Glass Is Actually an Ancient Greek Party Prank. My Modern Met. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://mymodernmet.com/pythagoras-cup/